John Calpari liking this team for more than just the way it has been scoring

John Calipari loves the selflessness that Lance Ware, left, has. (Jeff Houchin/Kentucky Today)

In Saturday’s win over High Point, sophomore Lance Ware had a terrific first half — maybe his best stretch as a Wildcat. He had five rebounds and two blocked shots in three minutes in the first half to continue what has been solid play in limited relief roles.

Kentucky coach John Calipari, though, liked something else that Ware did even more.

“He played really well. In three minutes, he had five rebounds and two blocks. That was at half. I walked in and when I was talking, I said, ‘Lance, I’m going to play Daimion (Collins), even though you played well because I’ve got to get him on the floor, and I want him to play,'” Calipari said.

Earlier Calipari had praised Ware’s unselfish attitude and work ethic are an example for other players to follow so how Ware reacted probably was not a surprise.

“He gave me a thumbs up. ‘I’m good.’ Can you imagine the maturity? How about the guy, you know, that’s disrespectful. You know — you’re selfish. This guy said thumbs up,” Calipari said.

“Then I was able to tell Daimion, and if you saw I made them hug each other on the bench, start of the second half, I said, ‘He’s giving up minutes and he’s playing unbelievably but he’s willing to give the minutes. You’d better go in there and play hard.’

“Well, look how Daimion played. Now they start playing for each other and I hate to tell you, I like him and Daimion together on the court. I like them both on there. And we play a different way, a certain way, but I like that, which means we can go to that. So that’s the kind of stuff that’s happening.”

Trust me, I never expected to hear Calipari say he liked a lineup of Ware and Collins together because of the limitations it could place on the offense. Ware is UK’s most physical player off the bench and Collins is so athletic and explosive but also so thin.

Yet UK has plenty of offense now coming from TyTy Washington, Kellan Grady, Davion Mintz and even Keion Brooks that would be in the game with Collins and/or Ware.

But this is about more than just who is playing.

“Bryce (Hopkins) played so well in the first half (against High Point). I went to sub him and Kellan (Grady) said, ‘Leave him in, Coach. Let him play,'” Calipari said.

“We are starting to be empowered as a team.”

Kentucky plays again Tuesday night at LSU and it’s obvious Calipari is liking this team — which has won four straight games in blowout fashion — more and more.

“These kids are getting better and better at pushing out the clutter, leaving that rat poison alone, and focusing on each other, and I keep telling them, look, there are not many teams that I’ve coached that get along like this team,” Calipari said.

“You’d better enjoy it because when it’s over, it’s over. You may never play on another team that gets along like this team.”